Relief washed over Carlos's face. He and the boy then headed back to where the rest of the team was waiting. As they advanced through the mountains and trees, Carlos suddenly stopped; he looked shocked and stunned by something. At that moment, the boy turned to him with a look of astonishment.
"Hey, what's wrong? Why did you stop suddenly?"
Carlos replied to the boy's question with a hesitant tone: "Uh… Hehe… Actually, I forgot something important."
As soon as he heard this, the boy looked at Carlos seriously. Something important? What could it be, I wonder?
Carlos answered him by saying: "Your name."
The boy was taken aback by this. "My name? What do you mean?"
Carlos: "I mean your name, I forgot to ask you for it."
At this point, the boy burst into laughter at Carlos's words: "Hahahaha! Do you mean that everything that just happened was only because you didn't know my name? Pfft… Look at yourself, how you look! Hahahaa!"
Carlos was annoyed by the boy's mockery: "Alright, alright, enough laughing. Knowing your name is genuinely important."
The boy replied in surprise: "Important? Is it really that important?"
Carlos answered him: "Yes, yes, it's very important."
"Well, in that case, my name is…"
Carlos was watching the boy's lips move intently, as if waiting to hear something exciting.
"My name is…"
"Aahh, come on, tell me! You're about to kill me with suspense!"
The boy was truly happy with Carlos's actions; his gestures were friendly and full of emotion. He hadn't felt these feelings in a long time.
As the boy enjoyed looking at Carlos, Carlos frowned at him: "Well, I no longer need to know your name if you're going to mock me this much."
"Huh? You really don't want to know it anymore?"
Carlos: "No, I don't."
"Really? You really don't want to know it anymore?"
"Hmph…" Carlos turned his face away and said: "No, I don't want to…" but in reality, he was very eager to know it.
"Well… actually, my name is 'Ra…'"
At that moment, Carlos immediately turned towards the boy: "'Ra'? Is that your name?"
"No, no! Stop! It's not 'Ra'! You didn't let me tell you before you interrupted me!"
Carlos: "Aah, I'm truly sorry."
"My name is Rafen."
"Rafen… That's the name the Sorcerer used to call me by."
Carlos was impressed by his knowledge: "Really, that's great, great! It's a truly beautiful name! Rafen, from now on, you are part of our humble family. I hope it meets your approval."
Rafen replied to this: "Don't worry, I'm a simple person and easy to please. I won't be a burden on you, and I think I'll quickly fit in with you all."
Carlos: "Ah yes, I'm certain of that, because you are not the only one with such qualities on our team."
In the shining moonlight, between the trees and mountains, a cool breeze blew. Carlos inhaled the air and seemed delighted, like a bird regaining its freedom. Then, he and Rafen set off toward the rest of the team. The distance separating them from the location was a little far, so Carlos and Rafen were exchanging conversation. In the midst of this talk, Rafen took the initiative to ask a strange question:
"Carlos, can you tell me about the Leader and who he is? I'm actually a little curious to know this."
As soon as Carlos heard this question, a sarcastic smile appeared on his face, but Rafen didn't understand its meaning, and he thought Carlos was mocking him and his question.
Rafen: "Huh? Why are you mocking this? Was my question really funny?"
Carlos answered him: "No, no, that's not it. The thing is that everything you might have imagined about the Leader could collapse in moments the moment you meet him in reality."
Rafen didn't understand the meaning of Carlos's words, so he ignored it. In reality, Rafen's imagination had taken him far, picturing many things. He was thinking about who the leader of this organization might be; given Carlos's strength, his leader must be stronger than him, or for example, he might be a person of high status who takes responsibility for funding and sponsoring this organization.
As they walked on their way back, he continued his imaginings. The two soon came close to the rest of the team's location. Carlos stopped atop a hill and pointed his hand: "Rafen, look, do you see that large rock there? The rest of the team should be waiting for us there."
Curiosity began to show on Rafen's face; the moment that he believed would completely change his life was approaching: a new life, a family to embrace him, and comrades… For the first time in his life, these feelings came to him.
The two finally arrived at their desired destination. A relatively large rock was in front of them. As Rafen was staring at it intently, Carlos spoke: "Behind this rock there is a hollow, Rian and the others should be here."
But before either of them could take a single step, a shadow jumped from above one of the nearby trees. The visibility was severely obscured as the rock blocked the moonlight.
At this moment, Rafen instinctively prepared and took a stance, clenching his fists as if getting ready to enter another battle, while nearby, Carlos was standing without any tension or signs of worry. In contrast, he looked at him with a look of ridicule. As soon as Rafen saw this look, he blushed again; he realized he looked like an idiot with his actions.
Directly in front of them, that shadow was advancing. Rafen couldn't precisely determine its shape or know what it was, but by observing Carlos's indifferent reaction, he didn't pay attention to the matter either.
Soon, the shadow moved away from the person, and his features appeared, and his form was revealed.
He was a boy whose height was almost identical to his own, with blazing crimson eyes pulsing with life and power, and crimson hair reaching down to his shoulders. He was wearing a black uniform with some details drawn in flaming crimson red. His sleeves were torn and his clothes were ragged, as if he had been in the midst of a fierce battle.
But the strange thing for Rafen was that this person advanced towards him without hesitation, his eyes filled with confidence. He advanced until he stood directly opposite him. It was a moment of silence and anticipation. Rafen didn't know how to handle the situation; he feared that if he took the initiative, his action might be impolite or make him a subject of ridicule, for he had been isolated from people for many years and couldn't talk to anyone.
At this moment, Rian's voice broke the silence; he raised his palm and offered a handshake to Rafen, and without any hesitation, Rafen accepted this invitation for a handshake. That formidable face and those eyes that were screaming power and determination quickly changed into something more friendly and happy.
"Hello, my name is Rian."
Upon hearing this, Rafen looked directly towards Carlos, as if waiting for a sign or something from him. He didn't know how to act, but Carlos didn't give him any attention, and only said:
"Hey Rian, I'll leave you two for a moment to get acquainted. I'm going to check on Teal."
Hearing this, it seemed as if a thunderbolt struck Rafen: "Uh? Wait! Where are you going?"
But Carlos did not turn to him and left.
As soon as Carlos left, Rian repeated what he had said:
"Hello, I'm Rian, pleased to meet you."
At this point, Rafen gathered his composure and looked toward Rian, and in a hesitant tone, he said: "Uh… Eeh… Actually, well… My name is Rafen, and Carlos just invited me to join this organization."
Rian: "Hah, Carlos invited you? It seems he stole my job! Isn't it me who should be handling these matters?"
And in a malicious tone, these were the words Rian said.
At this point, Rafen's mind stopped for a moment, then he took the initiative to ask a question: "Excuse me, and who are you to be handling such matters?"
Here, excitement flared up in Rian's heart: "Hah, it seems Carlos didn't tell you much, and now you want to know who I am?"
"I… my name is Rian, the Di Mutant born of the Crimson Dragon's blood, the founder of this organization, and also its Leader!"
Suddenly the atmosphere changed, and even Rafen's expression shifted. He couldn't define a clear stance towards this statement. In reality, Rafen had formed many imaginings about the Leader, but seeing him right here in front of him now, all those imaginings collapsed. Now he understood why Carlos had scoffed at his talk at that time.
End of Chapter.